Life-saving apparatus for aviators.



G. R. SIGNAIGO.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS PoR AvIAToRs.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1913. i 1,089,978. Patented Mar. 10, 1914 Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Mum/vbo@ 63. i?. S/Lyfzya akkus/m35 G. R. SIGNAIGO. MPE SAVING APPARATUS FOR AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1913. 1,089,978. Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

R. .5f/W @ya UNITED STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVAS R. SIGNAIGO, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS FOR AVIATORS.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GUs'rAvAs R. SIGNAIGO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby, Stateof Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus for Aviators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to life saving apparatus for aviators.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus of the character named which will be simple, light, compact and readily released When an emergency arises, and when so released Will eect the descent of the aviator at a relativel low speed and thereby avoid the possibility of personal injury. i

A further object of the invention resides `in the provision of an apparatus of the character described which embodies an improved 'orm of parachute, improved means for supporting the parachute upon the body of the aviator, improved means 'for releasing the parachute from the holding device which is harnessed to the aviator, and iinproved means for accelerating the spreading of the parachute when same has been released from the holding device.

With the labove and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangemeutand com- 4bination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particular-lv pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in Which- Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section through an aeroplane showing the invention applied. the parachute of the apparatus being folded and supported upon the aviator through the medium of the holding device of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view of the apparatus detached from the body of the aviator and with the parachute held in folded position; Fig. 3, a rear View of what is shown in Fig. 2 partly broken away; F ig. 4, a section on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of the apparatus showing one of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

Application led Apri'l 30, 1913. Serial No. 764,652.

pivoted members for holding and releasing the parachute, and Fig. 6, a perspective View partly in section and showing the parachute spread and in the act ot' descending. Referring to the drawings the apparatus 1S shown as comprising a base plate l0 which has attached thereto a breast strap 11 and shoulder straps 12 and 13 whereby said base plate may be conveniently secured upon the )ack of the aviator as will be obvious. The holding device for supporting the parachute of the apparatus in a folded state comprises a Ushaped plate A which includes arms 14; and 15 the free ends of which are bent laterally and secured to the plate 1() in any suitable manner. The bight portion of the plate A is dished inwardly as at 16 so as to form a socket or seat for the reception of the parachute of the apparatus when the latter is in a folded state. The arms j. l and 15 of the plate A and also a portion of the bight of said late are each slitted at spaced points and tie portion of said plates between these slits is carried laterally to form a flat plate 17, the outer end of each of the plates 17 being directed toward and secured to the base plate 10. Pivotally mounted on each late 17 is an angle member B one arm of w lich has a curved edge 18, while the corresponding edge of the other arm is beveled as at 19, the widest portion of said last named arm being disposed adjacent the plate 17. The pivot of each angle member is extended through the adjacent plate 17 and has fixed thereon a lever 20`operating between the base plate 10 and the plate A. The free ends of each of the levers 20 are slotted as at 21 and engaged through these slots is a pin 22 carried by au operating bar 23 which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a latch 24. By this c0n struction it will be apparent that when the bar 23 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the arms of the angle members B having the curved edge 18 will be disposed in a plane at right. angles to the longitudinal axis of the late A. Upon downward movement of the liar 23 it will be further apparent that the angle members B will be simultaneously rotated so as to dispose the arms of `said members provided with a beveled free edge in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the plate A.

The parachute of the apparatus is shown as comprising a disk 25 to the periphery of which is pivoted a plurality of ribs 26. These ribs are substantially arcuate in cross lsection and when folded have their adjacent edges disposed in overlapping relation, the ribs in this folded position constituting substantially a cylindrical casing adapted to seat snugly in the dished portion 16 of the plate A. The ribs 2G are connected to each other by webs 27 each of which latter is provided with a fabric extension 28 and these extensions 28 are reinforced and connected to each other as at 29. In this manner the body of the parachute of the apparatus is formed. The outer edges of the fabric extensions 28 are connected to the breast strap 1l by means of cables 30 and it will thus be apparent that when the parachute just described is released and spread the body of the aviator will be supported thereby so that his descent will be slow and the possibility of bodily injury entirely obviated. In applying the parachute same is first folded b lapping the extensions 28 and the web 2; within the ribs l26- so that same will assume the form of a cylindrical casing. This resultant casing is then seated in the dished portion 16 of thefplate A with the lower ends of certain of the ribs 26 resting on inturned nibs 31 formed at the lower end of the plate A. The angle members B are then rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 so that the curved edges 18 will-'embrace and hold `the folded parachute to the plate A. Secured to the lower end of the bar 23 is one end of a cable 32 which has secured to its other end a .ball 33. This ball 33 is normally embraced b the flexible fingers 34 formed on a brac (et 35 secured to the body of the aeroplane.

Vit-h the apparatus secured to the aviator as shown in Fig. l it will be apparent that in case of an accident the aeroplane will drop more rapidly than the body of the aviator and as a result the cable 32 will draw the bar 23 downwardly before the ball 33 becomes disengaged from the fingers 34. This movement of the bar 33 will rock the angle members B and cause `the beveled edges 19 of said members to Wedge in behind the parachute and throw the same laterally and entirely free of the plate A. The ball 33 will then leave the lingers 34 and the Losse 7s parachute seated in said groove,l means for `supporting said folded parachute against movement longitudinally of the body portion, means for normally holding the folded parachute against movement laterally from itsl seat, and means operated by relative movement between an aeroplane and thev body of an aviator for throwing said paray chute laterally from its seat.

'2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base plate, shoulder and breast straps connected. to said base late for supporting the latter upon the bo y of an aviator a. U-shaped plate secured against said base plate and having its bight dished, a folded parachute seated in the dished portion of the U-shaped plate, angle members pivoted on said U-shapedI plate and eachA having the free' edge of one arm curved and of the other arm beveled, the curved edges of the` arms of said angle members being adapted in thehorizontal position of said arms to embrace and hold the folded parachute against lateral movement from its seat and the bevelededges of the other arms of said angle members being adapted to wedge the folded parachute from its seat when said angle members are rotated in one direction, and means opera-ted by relative movement between the aviator and aeroplane for rotating the angle members to wedge the parachute from its seat.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

eUs'ravAs R. sreNAiGo..

Witnesses;

W. ELLIS CHANDLER, V. I-IawoRTH. 

